Washing-machine and gear.



VV. H. VOSS. WASHING MACHINE AND GEAR. APPLICATION IILED MAR. Q. 1912.

Patented Aug. 25, 19M.

. VOSS.

WASHING MACHINE AND GEAR. APPLICATION FILED Mmm, 1912.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914;,

lll/Ille VIII description, taken in conjunction with the i vention to provide va wringer attached to the washing machine `may be driven eitherl forward or backward WILLJIAM E. VOSS,'0F DAVENPORT, IOWA.

wnsnrne-Maonnvn ann enen.

n Patented Aug,` 25, 1914. application niet march a, ieia serial no. aereas.

lldlllltpt. Specification of ltetters Patent.

outstanding dange 9, on which the wooden' block 4 iscarried and to which it is secured by bolts 10. Thev upper end 8 of the cast iron sleeve has a square socket which slips To all whom it may concern Be it known that ll, Winnaar H. Voss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of' lowa, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Washinglt/lachines and Gears, of which the following is a specification.

lt is the object of the present invention to provide an improved washing machine equipped with gearing and other mecha* nisms so arranged that the agitator is located at the bottom of the tub with its pins extending upward, connections being provided for driving the agitator through the bottom of the tub, instead of through the lid of the washer.

lt Iis a further object of the present ina metal bottom for the the agitator in such a is provided above the where they enter 'the serviceable as the driving shaft for moving the agitator intermittently in opposite directions.

per end of the square shaft/11 by a pin 13 and this bushing rests on the top of a tubular support la and serves as a bearing for the agitator when it rotates. The lower end of the tubular support 14 passes through the steel bottom 3 of the tub and is screwed into a flanged cast iron plate 15 suitably secured to the tight connection. rllhe tube 14 serves not only as a bearing or support for the agitator, but it also prevents water from running through the bottom of the tub. It will be xapparent that the dasher can be lifted out of the tub at any time when emptying the tub of clothes, without in any way disturbing the parts of the mechanism. The agitator is supported far enough above tub and to arrange way that a water seal driving connections tub.. f

llt is a further object to provide special driving connections, whereby either hand power or engine power may be applied to actuate the agitator and whereby, if desired,

tion on the bottom.

' The square shaft 11 carries a second brass bushing 16 which fits into the lower end of the tubular support 14: and acts as a bearing. The lower end of this bushing 1s shaped to form a bearing fora gear 17. A pin 18 supports gear 17 and this in turn eeps bushing 16 from dropping out of place. sliding clutch 19 is carried on the lower end of the squared shaft and can be slipped up into driving engagement with the notched flange en thegear 17 and so establish driving connection between that gear and the square shaft 11. A rack 2() meshes with ear 17 and can be driven forward and ackward to rotate the agitator first in one direction and then in the other.

The means for driving the rack 20 comprises a lever 21 pivotally4 mounted at 22- and may be instantly stopped, started or reversed, at the will of the operator.

For a better yunderstanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the complete washing machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the platform under the tub, and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the agitator.

'1n the construction shown in the drawings, the washing machine comprises a tub l mounted on four legs 2 in the usual manner. rllhe bottom of this tu instead of being made of wood, consists of a steel plate 3 of circular outline fitted at its edge into an annular groove in the staves of the tub.

A brass bushing 12 is secured near the up! bottom of the tub with a water the bottom Sto prevent any rubbing or fricy over the upper end of a square shaft 11,

Til@ agltator or dolly instead o f being supto a suitable platform carried on braces heported from the lid of the washer, as in tween the ,legs of the tub. This lever is common practice, is supported from the moved backward and forward by means of steel bottom 3 as shown in Fig. 3. The agi 'ia link 23 pivotally connected to the upper end of lever 2l and also pivotally connected to the sideleverd or actuating arm. whereby thelmachine may be operated by hand power a plied to the and bac vard movement of the handle 25 moves rach 20 forward and backward and tator for dolly comprises a wooden bloclr t carrying three pins 5, made of wood and long enough to reach almost to the lid t of the tub. This agitator is sup orted .on a galvanized castv iron sleeve 7 c osed at its top f3 and provided at its lower` edge with an handle 25. A forward A when the sliding clutch 19 is in its raised or driving. position, a connection is established to the square shaft 11 and the agitator of the machine rotates first in one direction and then in the other direction, thereby swinging the clothes and the water against the sides of the tub. The means for shifting clutch 19 comprises a hand lever 26 fulcrumed to a casting 27 carried on a narrow board 23 which extends across the galvanized steel bottom of the tub. This board also serves to support the guide 29 (Fig. 3) for the driving rack.

Pivotally connected to the lever 21 is a connecting rod 30 which is in driving engagement with a crank on a large sprocket wheel 3l. This sprocket wheel 31 is connected by means of a chain 32 to a smaller sprocket 33 mounted on one end of a countershaft 34 on the outer end of which is a flywheel 35. vThen the machine is to be driven by a gasolene engine or electric motor, the {ly-wheel 35 may be used as the belt wheel of the machine. The geared connection just described, serves to increase the speed at the fly-wheelA when the machine is worked by hand and serves to reduce the speed at the agitator when the machine is driven by power.

' Sprocket 31 is mounted on one end of what may be designated the main 'drive shaft 36, this shaft being carried in a 'bearing 37 and carrying at its outer end the reversing mechanism for the wringer. The reversing mechanism comprises a pair of bevel gears 38 and 39 loosely mounted on the .Y main shaft 36 and permanently in mesh with a third bevel gear 40. A sliding clutch 4l with,` suitable ratchet faces y canv be moved from its neutral and idle position, sidewise into engagement with ratchet faces on each of the bevel gears 38 and 39 so that the sprocket 42 carried by beveled gear 39 can bel driven in either direction to drive the chain 42 and the wringer roll connected thereto either forward or backward as desired.

The reversing mechanism for the wringer is disclosed more in detail and is claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 664,589, led December 7th, 1911. The mechanism whereby clutch 41 can be shifted, includes a rod 43 extending across the platform and equipped at its outer end with an actuating bell crank 44 pivotally connected with a foot piece 45 and with a vertical ook shaft 46 in such a way that by pushing down on the foot piece or` by yturning the handle 47 of the rock shaft in its bearing plate 48, the wringer clutch will be slipped either way from its neutral position to start the wringer either forward or reverse.

It will be understood that the wringer can be out of gear. when the agitator is in use or the topy surface. Then when the agitator reverses in direction, the counter-current tends to cause the water to run over the top edge of the tub. To prevent overflow from this source, an annular rim 50 is provided just at the top ends of the stavesand extending.

entirely around the tub.

l claim:

1. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub, of a tubular support detachably secured thereto and extending upwardly therein, a bushing freely mounted in each end` of the support, a squared shaft connecting said bushings, a sleeve suspended over one of said bushings, upwardly extending pins carried by the sleeve, the upper end of said shaft resting within said sleeve to form a connection, means for operatively connecting the other of said bushings for driving the sleeve alternately in opposite directions.

2.' In a washing machine, the combination with a tub, of a support mounted within the tub, a sleeve encircling said support, thev upper end of said sleeve being closed and resting upon the support, a shaft extending through said support and connected directly to the closed portion ofthe sleeve, the said sleeve depending over the support and restin a short distance above the bottom of the tug, a wooden block secured to the ,lower end of the sleeve, a plurality of pins mounted within the upper face of/said block and means for.driving the shaft whereby the sleeve will be oscillated for the purpose specified. f

3. In a washing machine, the combination with the tub, a tubular support detachably mounted within said tub, a squared shaft extending through said tubular support, a sleeve mounted upon said tubular support and having a square socket for the reception of the upper end of the said squared shaft, pinsdetachably mounted in said sleeve extending upwardly and outwardly, and means for driving said agitator alternately in opposite directions.

4. In a washing machine, the combination with the tub, an agitator support carried by the bottom of the tub, an agitator rotatably mounted on said support, an annular fiange formed integral with the lower end of said agitator and extending adjacent the bottom of the tub, a wooden block detachably secured to said flange, a plurality of pins exincassi y 3 tending upwardly and outwardly adjacent with, a sleeve having a closed end, said to the top of the tub, and means for operclosed end having a squared socket formed ating said agitator'. Y therein for the reception of the upper end 5. ln a Washing machine, the combination ,of the -squared shaft, the said sleeve being with the tub, of an internally threaded plate supported upon the bushing mounted within 30 secured to the bottom of said tub, a tubular the upper -end of the support, an annular support detachably secured within said flange formed integral with the lower end of plate, bushings freely mounted within the said sleeve and restingjust above the bottom opposite ends` of said support, means for of the tub, an annular wooden block detach# lo connecting said bushings, an agitator supably secured upon said ange, a plurality of 35 ported upon said ltubular support, means pins detachablyrmounted within the upper operatively connecting one of the said bush- Jr'ace of said Wooden block extending upings with the agitator, and' means operawardly and outwardl and means operatively connecting the other said bushing for tively connected to t e bushing mounted i5 driving said agitator alternately in opposite Within the lower end of said tubular su port 40 directions. for driving the said sleeve alternatelhfin 6. Ina washing machine, the combination opposite directions for the purpose specified."

with the tub, an internally threaded plate In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe rigidly secured to the 'bottom of the tub, a my name to this specification in the presence 2u tubular supportddetaflshably secured to said oi two witnesses. internally threa ed p' ate an extending upi Wardly from the bottom of the tub, a bush- WILLIAMH' YOSS' in freely mounted within each end of said Witnesses: tu ular support, a squared shaft extending WiLLIAM E. PULS,

t5 through said bushings and connected there- F. PRIEss. 

